While shipping companies and services accept a great number of items, some require special care when sending or receiving them. Referred to as “dangerous goods” or “hazardous materials”, these items have strict regulations to keep involved parties as safe as possible. While many are unlikely to be handled by the average person, there are other products that you might not realize would need to be regulated. Homeowners should know what to expect during dangerous goods packaging and shipping.
What are Dangerous Goods?
Dangerous goods are defined by the Department of Transportation and the United Nations as any substance or object that could harm living organisms, property or the environment, whether broadly or due to specific conditions during shipping. There are nine recognized categories, based on the type of danger posed:
- Explosives
- Gases—flammable, toxic or neither
- Flammable liquids
- Flammable solids
- Oxidizing substances and organic pesticides
- Toxic and infectious substances
- Radioactive
